Fitz was sitting in the Oval contemplating what he had just done. Divorcing Mellie was never part of the plans that were laid out for him all those years ago. Sure they weren't in love but they had a common goal, which was his presidency. It wasn't until Olivia Pope had walked into their lives did he even think for one moment that there was more to a relationship than just a barely tolerable companionship. He knew the moment he met her, she would be his undoing without meaning to be. It made him realise that he was living a life that was a lie and not to his true potential. He needed more than a political wife, he needed a partner. He had always planned to divorce Mellie after he had moved into the White House. With or without Olivia he wanted to be honest with himself and with the people. He was glad that Olivia had taken the job with Wesley Cooper. It was a great opportunity for her and he knew it would make her happy, and at the end of the day her happiness is what he wanted. After everything they had been through, he cared about her enough to want only the best for her. In the meantime he wanted to be the man she voted for. Despite the fact that she was so far away, she was still his moral compass that he gauged many if not all of his decisions on. His thoughts were interrupted by his secretary,

"Yes Louise,"

"I have Morris from the gates sir. Apparently there is a Huck that is wanting to deliver something for you." Fitz knew Huck, he was a good friend of Olivia's and that was enough for him.

"Please tell Morris to give Huck a pass and have him come to my office."

"Yes sir,"

"Huck please come in," Fitz said waving him in as he stood from his desk.

"Liv just wanted me to deliver this for you," he said handing Fitz a small box. Curiously he opened it to find a phone. He picked it up and looked at Huck curiously.

"It's a secure phone. No one is able to track or hack into it." Fitz nodded understanding as Huck headed out. Literally moments after Huck had departed from his office the phone in his hand rang,

"Well hello there," he answered with a grin.

"The news just hit my side of the world. I thought you could use a friendly voice."

"Your timing in impeccable as always. It's been crazy here. Cy's been trying to put out fires. Mellie's gone to Santa Barbara to avoid the madness. I tried to send the kids off with her so they wouldn't have to be in the middle of this but they want to stand in solidarity."

"They love you, they want to make sure you know they have your back."

"I know and I love them for it but they already hate the spotlight, this just makes it worse."

"If you want to send them here for a little anonymity you can. Coop and I will make sure they're safe and away from paparazzi." She offered,

"Thanks Liv. In all honesty I want to send all three of us there for anonymity."

"Tough luck for you it's not so easy to be Anonymous when you're the president."

"Buzz kill Liv," Olivia laughed,

"I'm sorry. How are you holding up?"

"Good. I mean it's weird honestly and then I have poor Cyrus running around trying to put out fires around me. It was the right decision, I guess it's just seeing the mixed reaction. Having to see that people are disappointed in me." She caught the sadness in his voice,

"You said so yourself. Had you remained silent, you would be doing them a disservice. I am proud you. You would rather lead from a place of honesty than popularity. You are the man I voted for and so much more. Don't disregard and diminish the gravity of the sacrifice you were willing to make so that you were no longer lying to the American people. It seems a little as though they're swarmed around with pitchforks right now but it will die down. You just keep being you, let your children stand beside you, not for aesthetics but because you three genuinely love and support each other. Let the American people know that you are still the man who believes in family values wholeheartedly and that doesn't change because you made the choice of what would be better for your family." Fitz closed his eyes and let her words sink in,

"Thank you Livi."

"Anytime Fitz."

"So how goes Paris?" He asked changing the subject,

"Great! Working all the time but it kind of sucks less that Coop is there to make it more fun. I swear half the time I feel like we're college students with bigger dorm rooms." Fitz laughed heartily. After being privy to their exchange he knew what she was talking about. Coop was a couple of years older than Olivia and they were so similar that it was almost uncanny." It reminded Fitz that Olivia was still young and she needed to be with those around her age to be carefree and fun. He knew from her history that she had always felt more comfortable in the company of those older. He guessed it was all the time she spent with her parents and Cyrus.

"I bet,"

"How's Cy? I checked in on him a little earlier and I was pretty sure he was was breathing into a paper bag." He chuckled.

"He probably was. He's been a trooper Liv. I'm sure he wanted to kill me when I told him what I was going to do." Olivia laughed, he wasn't far off. The day after Fitz had told her Cyrus was in her living room pacing and ranting in a way that only Cyrus could.

"Uncle Cy, calm down. You're going to pop a vein or have a heart attack. Please." She said not entirely joking. Cyrus took a breath,

"We're at the White House Liv, we're here." He whined,

"And what Uncle Cy, you can't change the world because the man is receiving a little disapproval? Because he's not as perfect as you thought he was. Come on Cy, he's idealism and his principles are the very reason why you thought he was once in a lifetime. That hasn't changed Cy, if anything the fact that he would rather walk away from what is evidently a lie and be true to who he is despite the whiplash he knew he was going to get solidifies the fact that he is the right person to run the country. He is that person you always thought he was Uncle Cy, and he is." Olivia paused,

"Once in a lifetime," she repeated placing a hand on his arm. Cyrus exasperated let out a breath before dramatically collapsing on her couch.

"This is why you should be working in the White House," he muttered,

"What so I can talk you off ledges on the daily basis? Cyrus, I can do that from Paris. Anytime time of day. I told you that."

"You know that man better than anyone,"

"Uncle Cy," she pleaded.

"I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I know you're happy and I'm happy you're happy." Olivia smiled.

"Good, I'm glad. I really love it here. I mean I always have, but it's different being here as an adult and living a life here as an adult. I try to spend a couple of days at the house whenever I get a chance, which admittedly isn't as much as I'd like."

"I haven't been there since the last time we were all there," Cyrus said wistfully as they spoke of the Pope Summer home by the beach not far away from Paris.

"When you're ready, let me know and I can take you there. It's barely an hour drive."

"Next trip," he promised. Olivia shifted closer to him on the couch and looped an arm through his as she lay her head on his shoulder.

"I miss them too Uncle Cy, some days more than others. Whenever I walk that stretch of the beach I keep waiting for Dad to call me back into the house for lunch or dinner. It always breaks my heart to walk back knowing neither of them will be there when I walk through the door." Cyrus wrapped his arms around her, dropping his lips to her head knowing exactly what she meant.

"I don't say it nearly enough but i'm glad I have you kiddo and that I love you."

"Oh Uncle Cy, I know. I love you too."

"Hey Liv," Fitz said softly realising that he had lost her for a moment,

"Sorry Fitz," she replied apologetically clearing her throat.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, having Cy come to France was great. I've really missed him, but having him here did stir up a lot of memories for both of us. Memories I'm not sure we were prepared for. I know they're memories he's been running from and to be honest if it wasn't my birthday he probably would have never come to Paris." Olivia confessed.

"He loves you an awful lot."

"The feeling is more than mutual Fitz. I didn't realise just how much I missed him and worried about him till I saw him again."

"That's only natural Liv, and you know I always have an extra eye out on him for you."

"Thank you. I wouldn't trust him with anyone else but you and James, because I know that as big of a pain in the ass as he is, you love him as much as I do."

"That we do." He promised.

"Hey Liv,"

"Yeah,"

"Thank you for calling."

"You're welcome Fitz,"